Located 15kms East of Thiruvayaru on the Kumbakonam Highway and 5kms West of Kapisthalam Divya Desam is the Jagathrakshagan Perumal Divya Desam in Aadturai, where the Lord Vaiyam (Ulagam)Kaatha Perumal is seen in an East facing standing posture.
The Story
The Devas came together at this place invoking the blessings of Lord Vishnu requesting him to kill Asura Hiranyaksha. Legend has it that Vishnu cut open the earth, killed the Asura and reappeared, with Goddess Lakshmi, as Varaaha Moorthy (one of the 10 Avathaarams of Maha Vishnu) at Srimushnam.
As all of them came together at this place and prayed to the Lord requesting for protection, this place has come to be called Koodalur (where people come together). The Lord who protected the village from the Asura has come to called Jagath Rakshagan – One who protects the World
Another story goes that Raja Ambarishi was so pious that he even let go his kingdom to continue his penance.
Sage Durvasa, renowned for anger, once visited Ambarish. With the king in deep penance, Durvasa, in his typical style, lost patience and cursed Ambarish to lose the power of his penance.
The staunch devotee that Ambarish was, he continued to be lost in thoughts of the Lord. Coming to the aid of his devotee, Vishnu threw his Chakra at Sage Durvasa, who immediately begged the Lord for forgiveness. Hence, one can find the Utsavar at this temple – JagathRakshagan – with the Chakra in his hand.
Pleased with Ambarish’s penance, it is here that Vishnu gave him Darshan in his full Divine form. Delighted at having seen the Lord in his divine form, Ambarish built this temple. It is believed that this temple was washed away later with floods in the Cauvery. The temple that exists now in its current form was built later by Rani Mangammal of Madurai.
A third story has it that River Cauvery displayed her grief to the Lord that all the impurity/sins was being washed at the river and that she was feeling that the river here was becoming impure and unclean. Answering her prayers, it is believed that Cauvery regained all her glory at this place.
Another legend says that a rishi by name Nandakamuni had worshipped the Lord here. His daughter Ushay served the Lord by offering flowers (puspa kainkaryam). A Chola king fell in love with Ushay, married her and took her to his kingdom. But Ushay and the King got separated due to the evil minded people . The Lord at Thirukkoodalur was responsible for bringing the estranged wife and husband together. This is mentioned as another reason for the place being called ‘Thirukkoodalur’.
Thirumangai Azhvaar starts his 10 verses of the Koodalur Lord thus:
“தாம் தன் பெருமை அறியார், தூது
வேந்தற்கு ஆய வந்தார் ஊர்போல்
காந்தள் விரல் மென் கலை நல மடவார்
கூந்தல் கமழும் – கூடலூரே.”
Prayers to beget happiness in the family and blissful life between partners in marriage are answered by the Lord and Goddess here. It is customary to perform pujas and homams on one’s wedding days here. The locals pray to the Lord here by offering ghee lamps made out of broken coconuts and raw rice to get jobs.
Quick Facts
Moolavar : Sri Vaiyam (Ulagam) Kaatha Perumal
Goddess : Sri Padmaasini(Pushpavalli)
Utsavar : Sri Jagathrakshagan
Time : 730am-1230pm and 430pm-830pm
Address : Aduthurai Perumal Koil
Ullikadai Post, Papanasam Taluk Thanjavur Dist 614 202
How to reach ?
Buses ply every 10 minutes from Kumbakonam to Thiruvayaru (narrow road along the banks of Cauvery)
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